Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Former Southeast High standout Giovani Francois is headed to Temple this weekend on an official visit.

It will be the third official visit for the defensive lineman, who moved to Maryland to finish out the high school football season and won multiple honors for his play.

The 6-3, 230 pound Francois has visited FIU and most recently Cincinnati. He has said FIU is at the top of his list, but has not committed and is leaving himself open to other schools.

Temple’s new coach Steve Addazio knows about Francois from his years as an assistant at Florida where he was the Gators offensive coordinator last season.

Francois has offers from FIU, Louisville, Temple and Western Kentucky. Florida, USF, Maryland, Michigan State, Mississippi State and Northwestern have also shown interest in Francois, who is projected to play defensive end or linebacker in college.

"Coach Addazio, the old offensive coordinator at Florida offered me,” Francois told Rivals.com. “He told me he believes Florida should have offered me and he gladly wants me to play for him at Temple. He had seen me at camps over the summer and sees that I can rush the passer and stop the run. He thinks I can be an impact player at Temple and play on Sundays.”

Francois played five games for Wise High in Maryland. He finished with 32 tackles seven sacks and three forced fumbles, which got him selected to two post season All-Star games; the Crab Bowl and the inaugural Chesapeake Bowl where he was dubbed a “sack artist.”